Automatic safety latch for vehicle doors



flame 13, 1939. E. B. NISWONGER ET AL. 2,151,930

AUTOMATIC SAFETY LATCH FOR VEHICLE DOORS Filed April 10, 1937 a l 25 f 24' /92 m/ r 'l 6 WW I {II 'r/ 1 00.0 27 l 1 20 l4 l6 9 INVENTORS: EVERETTE N/SWO/VGf/P. HERBAL-ET f. PATCHFLL.

A TTORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SAFETY LATCH FOB. VEmCLE OBS Application April 10, 1937, Serial No. 136,113

J 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic safety latch for vehicle doors.

The invention, generally stated. relates to an automatic safety latch for twodoors with a jamb between them, and has more especial relation to a latch device for automobile and vehicle doors, to prevent anyone in the rear from opening them while the car is in motion or from jarring open.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a latch device of the character stated, in which there is provided a latch bolt which is limited as to outward movement, with engagement back of a keeper to prevent the door 15 on that side being opened, when the door on the opposite side is closed.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a plunger to which the above latch bolt is secured, the plunger being operated by 20 closing or opening the door on the opposite side of the door jamb.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an arrangement of parts as above described in which the door on the right side may be closed and latched automatically after the A door on the left side is closed.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a latch bolt that will also operate just as efliciently in case the door opposite the latch bolt 30 was hinged to the door jamb between the doors.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a latch device of the character stated comprising very few parts which can be cheaply manufactured and which will be very eflicient 35 for the purpose desired.

Other and further objects not at this time appeering will hereinafter be set forth and described.

The invention consists of the novel construc- 40 tion hereinafter described and finally claimed. The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part there- 45 of, and in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation plan from the inside, with the deviceland jamb in section. Figure 2 is a sectional plan view showing the door on the left opened, permitting the door on the right to open. Figure 3 is a simi- 50 let view, showing both doors closed, and Figure 4 is a similar view, showing the door on the left closed, while the door on the right is almost closed.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we 55 have shown in the accvompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred by us, because the same has been found practical and reliable, but it is to be understood that the various parts of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that our 5 invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the parts as herein shown and described.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral i designates a door which is hinged at the extreme left in practice although the hinge points are not shown in the drawing. However, it will be noted that the action of the latch will be substantially the same if it were hinged to the jamb. The numeral 2 designates also a door hinged at the extreme right and closing on the door jamb 3, such as the doors of an automobile sedan.

Mounted in the right side of. the jamb 3 is a square-hole casing 5 having at its outer end radial lugs 6 formed with holes through which screws I are passed into and through the jamb wall to receive nuts 8.

outwardly movable from the casing 5 is a latch bolt 9 of square section and rounded on its extreme right end for contact with a keeper i0 secured to the door 2 by screws H. The metal l2 in the door 2 is shaped as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to assist in retaining the keeper in place. Shims I2 may be placed between the door and the ledge of the keeper Ill to set it outward to take up wear and obtain an adjustable fit between it, the door and the latch bolt 9.

The latch bolt 9 has a rearwardly projecting round end I3 that is slidably fitted in an axial bore H in the inner end of a plunger l5 that has a sliding fit in the hollow casing 5. A retaining pin l6 passes from the walls of the plunger l5 through a longitudinal slot il in the rear end iii of the latch bolt 9. Formed on the extreme inner end of the latch bolt is a reduced axial projection 18 over which fits one end of a helical spring I! within the hollow inner end of the plunger.

Formed on the outer! periphery of the plunger 15 at the end of its hollow spring-receiving portion is an annular rib 20. Between the latter and the inner edge of the casing 5 a helical spring 2| surrounds the plunger.

In front of the rib 20 the plunger I5 is of square section, with a rounded outer end i5, for a slidm ing fit in the square bore of a casing 23 having radial lugs 24- for attachment to the jamb 3 by screws 25 and nuts 26.

The rounded end iii of the plunger l5 normally projects into the path of inward moverear door of the automobile, to lock the same in position until the front door I is again opened. If the rear door I is not closed when 16 the front one is shut, the rounded end of the Aatch bolt I will be in the path of the rear door when it is closed to be forced-inwardly by the" ledge II until the latter passes the latch bolt, whereupon the spring II' will force the latch bolt 7 20 outwardly over the ledge to hold the rear door closed. During this inward and outward movement of the latch bolt I, the slot I'I passes over the pin II carried by the plunger II.

When the frontrdoor I is again opened, the

I 26 pad 21 will clear the rounded end In of the 1 plunger II to permit the compressed .spring II to force it outwardly. .As the plunger I5 is pressed outwardly by the spring II, the pin II will engage the frontend of the slot II in the latch bolt I to draw it inwardly out'of the path of the ledge II, whereupon the rear door I is free to be opened. But so long as the front door I is closed, the rear door cannot be jarred open a vehicle while it is in motion.

Having described our invention, we claim: l. A latch for association with a door on each side of a lamb and free to open outwardly therefrom, said latch adapted for cooperation with a ledge on one door, and comprising a casing in said Jamb opposite said ledge, a latch bolt movable in said casing and having an outwardly, V

- .to permit children or others to fall out of the projecting end, a casing in the other side of said :jamb opposite the first casing, a plunger in said a longitudinal slot,.a pin carried by the rear end of the plunger having a sliding fit in said slot, and a helical spring surrounding the plunger between the inner end of the first casing and the projection on the plunger, the rounded end oi the plunger being adapted to engage a cam plate on the second door when the latter is closed, whereby said plunger will be forced inwardly for the purpose described.

2. A latch for association'with a door on each side of a jamb and free to open outwardly therefrom, said latch adapted for cooperation with. a ledge on one door, and comprising a casing in said iamb opposite said ledge, a latch bolt movable in said casing, a spring for moving said latch bolt out of the casing overthe ledge on said door to hold it in a closed position, a casing in the other side of said jamb opposite the first casing, a plunger in said second casing, a spring for forcing said plunger outwardly into the path of closing movement oi the second door, said plunger formed with a hollow rear end having a sliding fit in the first casing to receive the first spring, and a pin and slot connection between the rear end of the plunger and the latch bolt,

said plunger adapted, through the first spring,

to move the latch bolt overthe ledge on the first door when the front end of said plunger is engaged by the second door during the closing movement of the latter.

EVERETT B. NISWONGER. HERBERT E. PA'ICHEIL. 

